Gaura lindheimerii plant named &#39;Gauheha&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Gaura lindheimerii  plant with red-purple colored flowers attractive variegated foliage and a long blooming season.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Gaura lindheimerii

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Gauheha’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Gaura lindheimerii known by the varietal name ‘Gauheha’. The new variety was discovered and isolated in Niigata, Japan in May of 2002 as a spontaneous mutation of Gaura lindheimerii ‘Gauchebra’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,581). The new variety exhibits similar blooming time to both parents, but has a more compact habit and different height, leaf size, and flower color than both parents. The new variety exhibits similar flower color and flower habit to ‘Gauchebra’, but is different from ‘Gauchebra’ in the coloring of the foliage. The flower color, plant habit and foliage color of ‘Gauheha’ differ from other Gaura lindheimerii varieties known to the breeder. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by terminal cuttings in Niigata, Japan. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the spike and flowers of the new variety;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new cultivar grown outside in peat-based compost in 17 cm pots with no extra fertilizer in The Netherlands. The data which defines these characteristics was collected by asexual reproductions by cuttings. The color readings were taken in The Netherlands under natural daylight. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Plant

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at 22° C. -   Time to develop roots: About 30 days at 18° C. -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:     About 8 weeks in a 9 cm container. -   Form: Upright; slightly spreading. -   Stem:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 3.5 mm.         -   Color.—147B and 137B flushed with 59B.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Light.         -   Form.—Erect. -   Height: Blooms are 35-40 cm above soil when grown in a pot and 50 cm     above soil when grown in the ground. -   Diameter: In a pot, the plant grows to 25 cm in diameter. When grown     in the ground, the new variety grows to 35 cm in diameter. -   Vigor: Medium. -   Branching habit: Free. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—10 mm average, but varies slightly.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Light.         -   Color.—147B and heavily flushed with 59B, especially at the             shoot tip. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: 6.2 cm average. Width: 0.9 cm average.         -   Shape of leaf.—Oblanceolate.         -   Shape of apex.—Acute.         -   Shape of base.—Attenuate.         -   Texture.—Soft, slightly pubescent.         -   Margin type.—Slightly undulate.         -   Pubescence.—Slight on both upper and lower surfaces. -   Color:     -   -   Young leaves.—Upper surface: The center is 137A and the edge             is 9C, with a flushing of 59B. Lower surface: The center is             137B and the edge is 10B, with a flushing of 59B.         -   Mature leaves.—Upper surface: The center is a mixture of             137A and 147A, the edge is 9C, with a flushing of 59B. Lower             surface: The center is 137B and the edge is 10B. -   Petiole: Sessile; none present. -   Veins:     -   -   Color.—Upper surface: 137C. Lower surface: 137B.

Flower

-   Bud:     -   -   Stage when bud characteristics determined.—Fully developed.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Diameter.—2.5 mm average.         -   Length.—16 mm average.         -   Color.—Main body is 59B with the tip color being 147B. -   Natural flowering season: In Northern Europe—from May to late     October outside. -   Spike:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Average 23.         -   Length.—23 cm average. -   Diameter across bloom: 6.2 cm average. -   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Zygomorphic.         -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 4. Length: 18 mm average. Width: 10 mm             average. Shape: Obovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and appearance.—Smooth, matte.         -   Color (when opening and fully opened).—Upper surface:             Between 62D and 65D. Lower surface: Between 62D and 65D.             Veins: Upper surface: Between 67B and 67C. Lower surface:             Between 67B and 67C. -   Calyx:     -   -   Form.—Fused at tip.         -   Length.—15 mm average.         -   Diameter.—2 mm average.         -   Sepal shape.—Linear.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal texture.—Smooth, pubescent.         -   Sepal size.—Length: 15 mm average. Width: 2 mm average.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: 58A. Lower surface: 58A. -   Fragrance: None. -   Disease resistance: Good. -   Temperature tolerance: Good. -   Drought tolerance: Good. -   Lasting quality: Flowers last 1-2 days individually.

Reproductive Organs

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—8 per flower.         -   Filament length.—14 mm average.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Linear. Length: 3.2 mm. Color: 59A.         -   Pollen.—Color: 3B. Amount: Plentiful. -   Pistils:     -   -   Length.—20 mm average.         -   Style.—Length: 19 mm average. Color: White flushed with 62A.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Four ovals in cruciform. Color: 2C. -   Seed: None produced. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Gaura lindheimerii plant substantially as shown and described. 